'American Sniper' Review Roundup: Life Of Decorated Military Sniper Explored

"American Sniper," a movie based on the autobiography written by decorated U.S. military sniper Chris Kyle, is both harrowing and sad as it explores his life during his numerous deployments and the events leading up to his death while helping fellow veterans.

The film which opened over the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend looks set to earn over $105.2 million at the box office.

Starring Bradley Cooper playing the role of Kyle, the film recently received six Oscar nominations including one for Best Actor. Cooper, who put on 40 pounds to play the role, drew praise in a review by Time Magazine, saying the role is a U-turn from what he played in "American Hustle." The magazine also lauded Director Clint Eastwood who it said "delivered his finest directorial effort," adding that "Eastwood has honed his craft to its essentials and makes it seem as if the story is telling itself."

The Hollywood Reporter in its review said the film is expected to do well at the box office as it concentrates on "God, country and family" and will even attract those who normally don't go to movies.

As for the film itself, the Hollywood Reporter described it as a "taut, vivid and sad account" of the life of Kyle. Even though the story is noticeably patriotic it "also has underlying pain and melancholy arising from the central wages of violence theme," its review said.

Cooper's performance in the film also earned raves from USA Today in its review which gave it three stars out of four. The review noted that the film is "clearly Cooper's show and he has a believable Texas drawl, and embodies Kyle's confidence, intensity and vulnerability."

It also noted how Cooper is "thoroughly convincing as a man consumed thinking about soldiers he was unable to save."

The review, however, criticized the action in the film which it says falls flat whenever the enemy sniper called Mustafa (Sammy Sheik) turned up mysteriously on several occasions and then strangely disappeared.